Strategic Outcome Monitoring Concept for the RIICE Programme

RIICE is a joint project to provide millions of rice farmers in Asia
with enhanced security against crop losses. Thanks to vanguard
technology, a substantial improvement is to be made in forecasting
crop yields, thereby enabling smallholders to conclude
micro-insurance policies.

Rice is one of the most widely grown crops in the world, and it is
by far the most important food crop for the poor: more than 3.5
billion people depend on it worldwide. Over 90% of the world’s
rice is produced in Asia where farmers grow their crops on
small-holdings of the size of one or two hectares. While the Asian
population grows rapidly, commodity prices are rising and the
available arable land area is decreasing. In most Asian countries,
rice availability is equated with food security and closely
connected to political stability: rice price increases have caused
social unrest in several countries during the food crisis of 2008.

The objective of this project named “RIICE” (Remote
sensing-based Information and Insurance for Crops in Emerging
economies) is to reduce vulnerability of small-holder farmers
engaged in rice production in two ways:

a. Increase the information on rice growth areas and expected yields
to help governments, agricultural intermediaries and relief
organizations in better managing domestic rice production and
distribution both during the normal growing cycle as well as after
natural catastrophes struck.

b. Provide access to insurance solutions for governments,
agricultural intermediaries (such as cooperatives or rural banks)
and individual rural farmers to cushion the financial effects on
farmers that stem from natural catastrophes such as flood and
drought – the major causes for crop destruction in Asia.

The University of St. Gallen (I.VW and SBF) in cooperation with the
ETH-Nadel in Zürich develops a Strategic Outcome Monitoring
Concept to enhance the strategic, result oriented steering of the
RIICE Project.